Umbrella, and method of and apparatus for manufacturing same



Feb. 8,l 1944. w, s. T IMBLINv 2,341,399

UMBRELLA AND METHO "6F AND APPARATUSy FOR HlflANUFMzTIJRINGSAME l v Filed Feb. 27, 1941 'r sheets-sheet 1 @@Mzgw@ Feb. 8, 1944. y w. s. TIMBLIN 2,341,399

UMBRELLA AND METHODv OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAUFAGTURING SAME Filed Feb. 2:7, 1941 7' sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1944. -w. s. TIMBLIN 2,341,399 v UMBRELLA AND METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING lSAME] FiledFeb. 27,1941 'fsneefs-shee's man? Feb- 3, 1944. w. s. TIMBLIN UMBRELLA AND METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SAME '7 sheetsu-sheet 4 Filed Feb., 27,- 1941 mlm??? w. m n

Feb. s, `1944.

w. s. TIMBLIN 2,341,399

UMBRELLA AND METHOD OF AND APPARATUS'FOR MANUFACTURING SAME .Filed Feb. 27, 1941 v sheets-sheet 5 wl Il ZLgj Feb. s, 1944.

Iw. s. TIMBLIN UMBRELLA AND METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFAQTURING SAME Filed Feb. 27, "1941 Feb. 8, 1944. w. s.T1MBL.lN 2,341,399

UMBRELLA AND METHOD OF ND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING, S-AME Filed Feb. 27, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNIT ED stakes A .UlVllBRELLA, AND :METHODOFV ND rAP-PA- RATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGSAME William. Timblin, akiPafrk; "Ill.

Application February 27, 1941, `Serial No. 380,926

29 Claims.

"My invention-relates. more particularly, though notl exclusively, to the manufacture 'of umbrellas provided, lmoreespecially, to be purchasedand `used in fca'sel'feemergencyf andl desired to be produced atA -vastly less costthan'the standard type of umbrella'prov'ide'd for long continued use.

One of my objects is to provide an umbrella which may be made to sell at such a low price that it willlhave-a ready market where an umbrella, -not suitable for the repeated use as in the case of standard umbrellas, is desired, as for Aexample and more especially in the 'case of emergencies.

Another Objectis/to provide an umbrella of such construction thatthe bows commonlylforming parts of umbrellas and to which the'ribs `forming 'parts of the umbrella opening and Yclos- =ing meansfare pivoted, 'are eliminated, thereby greatly reducingthe costv` of the construction.

Another object is to provide a novel methodl 'an'dfapparatusior the'economical production of suchvumbr'ellas; Aand other objects as will be manifest from vthe following description.

Referring -to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is al plan v-iewof an umbrella embodying'my invention-and constructed in accordance with my novel methodfand apparatus, the umbrella being-'shown vin fully open position.

Figure isaviewinside elevation of the umbrella.

Figure 3 is 'aplanvlvi'ew, with a portion thereof broken away, of the'form portion of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my inventionv and by ywhich my'novelm'ethod'may be practiced.

Figure 4 is a bottom View of a hood member `forming apart of theapparatus certain portions .thereof being 'brokenaway .Figure 5 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus illustrating the manner of assembling therewith the parts of the umbrella .to be operated 'on by the apparatus, the section .being takenat'theline 5xon Fig. 3 and viewed Vin the direction of `the arrow.

Figure :6 is asimilar View of the apparatus of Fig. '5, theA section `.being taken at the line 6 on Fig. Sandyiewedzin the directionof `the arrow.

Figure 7 is a broken plan sectional view=taken at `the irregular line .lon Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction ofthe arrow.

Figure 8 .is a fragmentary vplan sectional vView taken at the line `8 on Fig. '5 and Viewed in the direction Vof the arrow.

vFigure 9 is .a .fragmentary plan View ofthe apparatus f of u Figs. `5, zand ".6 (with .the umbrella parts omitted).

.Figure ilO: is.l ab fragmentaryy sectional view taken at the irregularrline IUron Fig; 6 'andviewedin the direction of thei-farrow. .EEigure -lil aplanvview illustrating-stepsper- 5 'ormeliinLtheJproducing 'of the canopy of ythe umbrella. i i .Figure f 121iss ans edge of fthe fstructure shown. in

. oFigureflS :is -a fragmentary" sectional View` of 'the .istructure Cof. Fig;V 51.1.

uFigurelfllf'is .1a fragmentary sectional view of the :complete canopy.

liigurelf .iis abviewiin side 'elevation of. the rcompleteapparatus; and f Figure '16, Lalfragmentary. sectional view, the .section being taken; at the line fl B' on Fig. Vl5 fand -viewedin thefdirection of thexarrow.

:According fltfoi fthe more .particular illustrated :embodiment of 1 my 4invention lthe .umbrella comlp'ri'ses,generally'stated ashaftL-portion 20 which, in accordance with common practice, would `be lproviiedlat vone Zend with a handle (n'otfshown) flbyivvhich :tocarryvthe umbrella, the shaft. i .be ng preferablymade of wood;. acanopy or cover sectional spread.ers .212cm the form of lbarszpref- @erablylof wood the upper'1surfaces of which are fflatV (the. spreaders shownV vbeing ofv rectangular shape 'in :cross section); a sle'evef23 Aslidableon Jtheshaftlzilfand bythe'movement of which along `the 'fshatt :the Tumbrella .is opened. and jclosed,- as Idesired; and `means 32 V-for releasably retaining .the iumbrell'ain open condition.

'Il-iepanopy y.or cover' section r'2 I .may be .made #off-anyzsuita'ble material. `Preferablyitisiformed 35 of waterproof paper, as for example kraft .paper ofif-romo :to. 30.1b`s. :to 'the 'ream basis weight, .-andprovided'as .for example in -the yform 'of a cone `as.'hereinafter described; Athe canopyror 1 cover. section, *being l connected at Vits margin with 40 thettouterends of thespreaders 2-2 and especially .when.:the acanopy or :cover sectionv is madeof Alrelatively fragile material, such as for example t-hegpaper referred :td-connected at v'its vcentral ...portion-to an anchoring and-reinforcing member -=25fsecuredlto the upperendof-the shaft #20 and preferablydn y'the fform of aspider from the central portion of which, -at which it is secured to the shaft as for example by a tack 26, the :radial arms =21fbf the Aspider. extend. The-spider wmember maybe made rof ,any suitable,I material such, .as .for Iexample kraft paper f of `-about 200 lbsrcper Ireambasis' '.weight 'andits arms #2-'1 are preferably. rprovided-fof? the -same fnumber lasV the .ffsprealers 122 with vwinch they, :aline :as -shown 'in .-'Fia f Y The sleeve 23 may be made from a section of a paper tube having flanges 28 and 29 at its upper and lower ends, respectively, the :flange 28, by way of example, being in the form of a washer, and the nange 29, by way of example, being formed of a paper tube of larger diameter than that from which the body of the sleeve 23 is made, telescoped with the lower end of the smaller tubeand secured thereto as, forexample by glue. f 1

The spreaders 22 are grouped at their'inner ends about the sleeve 23 between its flanges, in

the manner of a hinge, as for example and preferably by threading through holes 30 in the inner ends of the spreaders, a length of cord 3| or any other suitable material, and thereafter tying together the ends of the cord to confine the spreaders about the sleeve, the flanges 28 and 29 at the ends of the sleeve insuring the actuation of the spreaders in the movement of the sleeve along the shaft and preventing accidental separavtion of Ath'eispreaders and sleeve.

In accordance with this construction the umbrella is opened, viz., thecanopy 2l is unfolded from collapsed condition to spread condition for use, by the operator sliding the sleeve 23 downwardly on the shaft 20 .which causes the spreaders 22, in moving at their inner ends downwardly on the shaft, to exert a spreading action on the canopy, by reason of their connection at their louter ends with the margin of the canopy thereby causing the canopy to become tensioned and assume conical form. In .the closing of the umbrella, viz., the manipulation of its parts to a position. in `which the canopy extends in folded condition lengthwise ofthe shaft, the spreaders, at their inner ends move with the sleeve, up-

j wardly along the shaft, the provision of the cen- -traly reinforcing member with its radiating .arms 21 :permitting the canopy to fold down :around the shaft.

`The spreaders 22 are p-rovided of such length lthat when the canopy is spread into conical form *to condition it for. use, the inner ends of the Aspreaders will extend toV points above the points f of connection of the outer ends of the spreaders with the canopy.A Thus in the nal movement of the spreaders in .theumbrella-opening operation, they exert considerable radial pressure against the margin of the canopy thereby caus- "in'gthe canopy to become taut with resultant endwise thrust on the'spreaders which, because of their upwardly inclined position, tends to force the spreaders and sleeve upwardly along the shaft.

The means 24 for releasably retaining the umbrella in open condition may be of any desirable construction, those shown being especially desirable as they serve to'automatically releasably hold the spreaders 22 in any desired position of The means 24 of the form shown comprise a' clip-like member formed of a strip 32 of spring sheet metal having openings 33 and 34 at its opposite ends. The strip 32 'is bent from its normal straight condition into bowed or arched spring tensioned condition as shown in which condition the sleeve 23 extends through the opening 33,

and the shaft 20, at; a portion below the sleeve 23, extends through the opening 34, these openings being slightly larger than the sleeve and shaft which extend therethrough. The clip thus provided operates to permit the sleeve 23 to freely slide down on the shaft 20 when the operator pushes down on the sleeve, the lower end of the strip 32 yielding upwardly in this movement, but to automatically clutch the shaft and sleeve together for releasably holding the sleeve against upward movement on the shaft responsive to the inward thrust of the canopy against the outer ends of the inclined spreaders 22 when the operator discontinues downward pressure on the sleeve.

The clutching means referred to are not only automatic to releasably hold the canopy in spread condition as stated, but are also automatic in the operation of closing the umbrella in that the operator in sliding his fingers upwardly along the shaft 2i) and into engagement with the lower end of the strip 32 to raise the sleeve 23, automatically flexes the strip 32 in a direction to release the clutch action, permitting the clutchclip and sleeve to slide easily to the top of the shaft in which operation the canopy 2| collapses around the shaft.

In accordance with a certain phase of my invention I provide for the rapid andeconomical assembling of the canopy 2l with the spider member 25 and the spreaders 22 as a factor in the production of an inexpensive form of umbrella. To this end I provide for the securing of the Acanopy 2| to the outer endsof the spreaders 22 and to the spider member 25, when used, by the simple and inexpensive operation of heatsealing these partstogether, preferably simultaneously, and involving the use of any suitable thermoplastic material at the surfaces to be secured together. kPreferably the heat-sealing material to be used is of a flexible waterproof character and it'is'preferably provided asa coating entirely covering both the inside and outside of the canopy 2l and the spider member 25 and as a coating for such of the surfaces of the spreaders 22 as are to be adhered to the canopy. A highly desirable coating for this purpose is hydrochlorinated rubber (paper suitable for my use and coated with such a material being well known in the art). In the case of the spreaders their outer end portionsI may be enveloped in such coated paper as represented at 35 and the paperV secured in place by `touching it with a hot iron, the paper forming caps for the ends of the spreaders.

In the use of heat-sealing material as stated the operation of adhering or sealing together the parts to bev connected together, involves merely the pressing of a hot iron against the flatwise opposed parts to be connected together for such short time as to render the coating plastic and adhesive whereupon the parts become welded together. By way of example, the

' iron used may'v be of a temperature about 250 F'. requiring contact of a few seconds only with the parts to be connected together to produce the desired weld.

The feature of heat-sealing may also be used in the rapid and economical forming of the canopy 2I. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, andfby Way of example, the canopy is formed of a square blank 36 of paper folded upon itself midway between opposite edges thereof producing a folded edge 31 at one side of the blank. A hot iron in the formof a narrow bar havinga -straightledge is then applied atwise to=theblank-to extend-at an anglefo'fhabout 15 to the folded edge 31 from a point midway between the ends-of Vthis foldededge to themargin ofthe blank and seal olf this portion 'of the folded blank, theboundary lines vof the sealbeing represented at l38 and 39. The blank is then trimmed :along the dotted curved line 40 and the portion of the lblank lying between the line 39 and-the -folded edge31 of the sheet trimmed off-alcngthe line =39.

V-Itmay be stated that, if desired, and as another of the variousways inwhich the canopy -maybefformed1 the sheet from which the canopy is to be formed maybe provided as a circular sheet, instead of "a squarevsheeuin which oase the -sheet would be `folded along its diameter and a segment thereof sealed off as described rabove as to the square sheet.

I-n all cases the'blankafter trimming as stated, ispreferably turned inside outto 4cause the seam 'bounded by the lines '38 and 39 to be at the vinside surface of the conical member thus formed.

Asa means for quicklyand economically sealing the canopy 2| to the spreaders 22 and the spider member 25 `I have devised the simple and inexpensive construction of apparatus illustrated -in Figs. -to 10, inclusive, of which the following is a description.

vThe apparatus shown and which is of the na- `ture of va form comprises a base portion 4| shown as mounted on the top 42 of a bench and to which the parts vof the umbrella to be heatsealed are applied, and a hood or cap portion 43 Aforcooperation therewith to perform the heatsealing operation.

The base portion -is in theform of a cone 0f vsuch shape vand size that the canopy 2| `may conformingly lit it, the base portion 4| having `anopening 44 coincident vwith its apex extending therethrough and registering with an opening .45 in the bench-top 42 and provided to receive .theumbrella-shaft 120 and the sleeve 23.

The upper conical surface of the base-portion :4| is grooved radially, as represented at 46, from the Iapex of the cone Jto its circumference, the Agrooves vlili being equidistantly spaced around the cone and of a number Vcorresponding with the vnumber of spreaders 22 of which the umbrella is to be formed.

YThe bottoms of the grooves 45 are of the proper depth and pitch from the center of the cone to its circumference, for maintaining the spreaders 22, when dropped into place in these grooves, in substantially the conical plane in which they extent when the completed umbrella is in the correct open position.

The base portion of the apparatus also comprises radially disposed segment-shaped supports 41 for the radial arms 21 of the spider member l25 during the heat-sealing operation, these supports which, when in operating position Figs. 5, '6, 9 and 10 form, in effect a continuous ring at the apex of the base 4| extending across the vinner ends of the grooves 45, being radially movable outwardly to adapt them to be retracted atwill to uncover the grooves 46 and permit of the positioning of the spreaders 22 in the grooves preliminary to the heat-sealing operation and the removal thereof from these grooves after the heat-sealing operation.

AIn the particular construction shown the base .portion 4| is vformed of alternating segmental l hollow blocks and plates 48 and 49, respectively, '7.5

secured-tothe' bench-top '42,4 theA grooves1146beinfg -formed `between Ithel blocks-48rfand the :plates 49. The upper surfaces of lthel blocks f4'81'are in the -ifor-mof *segments orj a cone fandform aseating `zsurface for "the canopy -2`| tobe heat#sealed tto The upper other -partsrras @above referred to. edges ofthe plates 49 which'formthe-bottoms of the grooves "46 incline upwardly toward.' the center'of the base.

"The segment-shaped supports 41 which Vare Aprovided of the vsame `number as the spreaders V22 areshown as in'the'form ofplates, theinner ends of which are out oif to 'provi'dea central opening 5i! as shown in Figsi 3, 5,'6, 9 and 110of adiameter slightlylarg'er` than that of `the up per end of 'thefsha'ft 20, whenthe plates 41 l'are in edge-abutting-set' position, the plates .being Asurfaces of thevblocks 48 `and to this end the upper surfaces of the inner ends of the blocks are recessed as shown at 5| Ain which recessed -portions the support-plates 41 are located-and radially slidable, the support plates 41 being guided for radial movement by ns depending therefro-m into elongated-radial Slots in the upper walls of the radial blocks '48, then and slot for one of the plates being shown'at 52 and 53, respectively, with anges `54 on'the finto conne the plate 41-on therblock.

In the particular construction shown the support-plates 41 arenormally yieldingly held in the closely grouped relation shown in Figs. 5, 6, `9 and 1'0 as by means of 'coil-springs l55 (the spring for one support-plate only being shown) inter'- posed between the outer -end of the n 53 and the end wall of the slot53 in Awhich it is located, socketed as indicated at 56 to receive the spring.

Mechanism is provided in the construction shown for simultaneously -moving the supportplates 41 radially outwardly at will, this mechanism as shown comprising for each support plate 41 a cord 51 threaded through openings 58 in the plate 41 with its ends passing over pairs of pulleys 59 and 60 journaled on the adjacent block 48. The'ends of each cord 51 are connectedas indicated at 6|, to a ring 62 having Adepending lugs 63 pivotally connected at 64 to links 55 pivotally connected at 66 to a treadle 61 pivoted to the floor at 68 and normally yieldingly upwardly pressed by a spring 59. As will be understood, depressing the treadle 61 lowers the ring G2 thus drawing on the cords 58 which slide the support-plates 41 radially outwardly against the resistance of rthe springs 58, the spring G9 preferably substantially counterbalancing the weight of the treadle and the parts supported thereby, whereby the springs 55 may lbe relatively light to perform their function above described.

lt may here be stated that preliminary to the heat-sealing of the Icanopy 2| to the spreaders 22 and the spider member 25, the shaft 20, spider member 25, sleeve 23 and spreaders 22 assembled to the position shown, are applied to the form to position the shaft- 2li and sleeve 23 in the central opening in the form, the spreaders 22 in the grooves 45 and the arms of the spider member 25 upon the upper inner surfaces of the support-plates '41 which -latter preliminary lto the insertion of the spreaders 22 into the Ygrooves 46 are drawn radially outwardly by the operator, by depressing the treadle 61 to uncover the inner ends of these grooves to open these grooves to receive the spreaders. The canopy is then applied to the form to the position shown in which position it atwise opposes the spider member and the outer ends of the spreaders.

The heat-sealing of the parts referred to is accomplished in the particular apparatus shown by placing upon the canopy 2| thus positioned, the hood-like conical member 43 which is supported for vertical movement into and out of position on the canopy.

The member 43 is provided with any suitable heater elements for engaging the portion of the canopy which flatwise opposes the spider member and the ends of the spreaders 22.

The heater element for engaging the canopy at the portion thereof fiatwise opposing the spider member 25 is in the form of a metal ring 1I shown as containing an electrical heating coil 12, and the heater elements for engaging the portions of the canopy 2| which register with the outer ends of the spreaders 22 are in the form of metal pads 13 containing electrical coils 14, these several heater elements being shown in Fig. 4 as connected in series with the wires 15 and 16 which would lead from any suitable source of electric current supply.

In the arrangement shown the hood member 43 is provided at its apex with an upwardly extending bar 11 which slides vertically in the cross bar 18 of a frame 19 rising from the bench-top 42, and is connected at its upper end with a cable 80 trained over a pulley 8| depending from the ceiling and over a pulley 82 secured to the frame 19, respectively, the outerv end of the cable 80 being provided with a weight 83 and a ring 84 which latter the operator grasps to pull on the cable and lift the hood member 43 to a position in which the umbrella unit assembled by the apparatus, may be removed therefrom and the parts to form another umbrella unit applied to position. The weight 83 is not sufficient to counterbalance the hood member 43 so that the latter, unless restrained, automatically lowers to its lowermost position. To hold the head member in raised position the ring 84 may be hooked over a pin 85 on the bench.

To insure the registration at all times of the pads 13 with the outer ends of the spreaders 22 any suitable means are provided for preventing the hood member 43 from turning, those shown for this purpose comprising vertical pairs of stationary guide rods 36 secured to the frame 19 at opposite sides of the apparatus and lugs 81 on the hood member which extend guidingly between the rods of the pairs thereof, with pins 88 on the lugs 81 at opposite sides of each pair of the guide rods 86 to steady the hood against latera1 movement.

While I have illustrated and described a certain particular construction of umbrella and apparatus embodying my linvention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the umbrella and apparatus may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, while I have illustrated and described a certain particular way of practicing my improved method and by a particular form of apparatus, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it theretoas the method disclosed may be variously altered and practiced by the use of other forms of; apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy of flexible material associated with said shaft, spreaders operative to condition said canopy for use and -means yconnecting said spreaders together at their inner ends for sliding movement on said shaft, a device operating automatically to releasably hold said spreaders against retrograde movement from any position to which they are moved along the shaft in the conditioning of the canopy for use.

2. In an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy of flexible material associated with said shaft, spreaders operative to condition said canopy for use and means connecting said spreaders together at their inner ends for sliding movement on said shaft, said spreaders operating when their inner ends are moved away from said canopy to condition said canopy for use, means operating automatically to releasably hold said spreaders against retrograde movement from any position to which they are moved along the shaft in the conditioning of the canopy for use.

3. In an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy of flexible material associated with said shaft, spreaders operative to condition said canopy for use and means connecting said spreaders together at their inner ends for sliding movement on said shaft, means movable with said spreaders and operating automatically to releasably clutch said shaft and hold said spreaders against retrograde movement from any position to which they are moved along the shaft in the conditioning of the canopy for use.

4. In an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy of flexible material associated with said shaft, spreaders operative to condition said canopy for use and means connecting said spreaders together at their inner ends for sliding movement on said shaft, said spreaders operating when their inner ends are moved away from said canopy to condition said canopy for use, a device movable with said spreaders operating automatically to releasably hold said spreaders against retrograde movement from any position to which they are moved along the shaft in a direction away from said canopy in the conditioning of the canopy for use and releasable to permit said Icanopy to be collapsed, by force applied by the operator against said device in a direction toward said canopy.

5. The method of securing the canopy of an umbrella to the outer ends of spreaders on the shaft of the umbrella which comprises heat-sealing the canopy at its margin to the spreaders.

6. The method of securing the canopy of an umbrella to the outer ends of spreaders and a terminal spider member on the shaft of the umbrella which comprises heat-sealing the canopy atits margin to the spreaders and at its central portion to said spider member. y '1. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, coinprising a base of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella, said grooves radiating from an vopening at the apex of said base for the shaft -of the umbrella.

8. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprising a base member of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella,lsaid grooves radiating fromY arl-'opening atthe -apexofv sadbase mernber for the shaft of` the umbrella, a hood member havin-g a conical portion conforming generally to the conical shape of said `base member and adapted to i'lt overV a canopy-forming conical element positioned on saidspreaders and means for heating one of said members for sealing said canopy-forming element and spreaders together.

9. Apparatus for the purpose ,Set-forth, .Comprisinga base of conical form having upwardly opening grooves-to` receive and seat the spreaders of" an umbrella,` said grooves radiating from an opening at the apex of Ysaid base for the shaft of the umbrella and a supporty adjacent the, inner ends of said grooves fora spidermember on the shaft -of the umbrella.

y10. Apparatus for-the purpose set. forth, comprising a base member of conical `form having upwardly opening grooves toreceive-andseat the spreaders of anvumbrella, said'grooves radiating from an opening at the apex of said base member for the shaft of theumbrellaya support adjacent the inner ends of'said'grooves for a spider element on the shaft of the umbrella, a hood member having a conical portion conforming generally to the conical shape of said base member at its apex portion and adapted to fit over a canopyforming conical element positioned on said spider element and means for heating one of said members for sealing said canopy-forming element and spider element together.

1l. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprising a base member of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella, said grooves radiating from an opening at the apex of said base member for the shaft of the umbrella, a support adjacent the inner ends of said grooves for a spider element on the shaft of the umbrella, a hood member having a conical portion conforming generally to the conical shape of said base member and adapted to fit over a canopy-forming conical element positioned on said spider element and spreaders and means for heating one of said members for sealing said canopy-forming element, spider element and spreaders together.

l2. An apparatus according to preceding claim 9 characterized by the hood member being mounted for reciprocal movement toward and away from said base.

13. An apparatus according to preceding claim 1l characterized by the hood member being mounted for reciprocal movement toward and away from said base member.

14. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprising a base member of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella, said grooves radiating from an opening at the apex of said base member for the shaft of the umbrella, a support adjacent the inner ends of said grooves for a spider element on the shaft of the umbrella, a hood member reciprocably supported for movement toward and away from said base member having a conical portion conforming generally to the conical shape of said base member and adapted to fit over a canopy-forming conical element positioned on said spider element and spreaders and means for heating one of said members for sealing said canopy-forming element, spider element and spreaders together.

l5. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprising a base of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella, said grooves radiating from an opening 'at-the apex of said basefor the shaft of the umbrella, and a sectional supportradjacent theinner ends of said groovesfor a spider member on the shaft of the umbrella, the sections of said supportbeing radially movable.

16. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprisingabase member of yconical formhaving upwardlyopening groovesto receiveand seat the spreaders of an umbrella, saidgrooves radiating from an opening at the apex of said base member for the shaft of the umbrella, a sectional supportadjacent the inner ends of said grooves f-or a spider element on the shaft. of the umbrella, .the sections .of said support being radially movable, a hood member having a conical,vv portion conforming generally vto the conical shape of 'said base member and adapted to fit over a canopyforming conical elementpositioned on said spider elementV and` spreadersy and-'means for heating one of said members for sealing fsaid canopyforming member andv spider member together.'

17. Apparatus for the purpose set forth, comprising= a base; member of conical form having upwardly opening grooves to receive and seat the spreaders of an umbrella, said grooves radiating from an4 opening at the apex of said base for the shaft of the umbrella, a sectional support adjacent the inner ends of said grooves for a spider element on the shaft of the umbrella, the sections of said support being radially movable, a hood member reciprocably supported for movement toward and away from said ibase member and having a conical portion conforming generally to the conical shape of said base member and adapted to t over a canopy-forming conical element positioned on said spider element and spreaders and means for heating one of said members for sealing said canopy-forming member and spider member together.

18. The method of securing the canopy of an umbrella to the outer ends of spreaders and a terminal spider member on the shaft of the umbrella which comprises simultaneously heat-sealing the canopy at its margin to the spreaders and at its central portion to said spider member.

19. In a structure having a shaft member and a sleeve member on said shaft member, and in which structure said members are relatively movable lengthwise thereof, a clip device for releasably holding said members from relative movement in one direction while permitting such movement in the opposite direction, comprising a spring strip having apertures through which said sleeve member and said shaft member, beyond said sleeve member, extend, respectively, said strip being bowed and engaging said sleeve member and shaft member under spring ten- SlOll.

20. In an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy and means for opening and closing the umbrella, a flexible spider member on the upper end of said shaft presenting radial arms, said canopy being connected at its central portion to said spider member.

21. In an umbrella having a collapsible canopy, a shaft and spreaders, a spider member having radial arms secured to the upper end of said shaft, said canopy being connected at its center to said spider member andrat its margin to said spreaders.

22. In an umbrella having a collapsible canopy, a shaft and spreaders, a spider member having radial arms secured to the upper end of said shaft, said canopy being heat-sealed at its center v-to `'said canopy and at its margin to said spreaders.

23. In an umbrella having a shaft, a canopy of brous sheet material carried by said shaft and means for opening and closing the umbrella,- a coating of hydrochlorinated rubber on said sheet said means comprising members heatvsealed to said canopy at its outer margin.

24.' In' an umbrella having a shaft, a canopy `formed of fibrous sheet material carried bysaid shaft and means for opening and closing the umbrella, a spider member on the upper end of fsaidfshaft to which said canopy is heat-sealed, said means comprising members heat-sealed to said canopy at its outer margin.

25. Inv an umbrella having a shaft, a collapsible canopy, spreaders operative to condition said canopy for use, and a flanged tubular member slidable on said shaft and about which said yspreaders at their inner ends are grouped, means tying the inner ends of said spreaders together independently of said tubular member. 26. In an umbrella having a shaft; a collapsiinner ends of said spreaders having openings, a

member threaded through said openings for securing said spreaders together at their 'inner ends.

` A27. In an umbrella having a collapsible canopy, 'a shaft and spreaders, a member securedto the upper end of said shaft,vsaid canopy being heatsealed at its center to said member and at its margin to said spreaders.

28. The 'method of securing the canopy of an umbrella to the outer ends of spreaders anda terminal member on the shaft of the umbrella which comprises heat-sealing the canopy at its margin to the spreadersand at its central por-v tion to said member. l

29. In an umbrella having a collapsible canopy, a shaft and separate spreaders, the feature'of the canopy being heat-sealed to said spreaders. I WILLIAM S. 'I'IMIBLIN CERTIFICATE l OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,5Ll1,599. February 8, 19ML.

mmm s. TIMBLIN.

It '1s hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, second column, line 5l, for "means 52" read means 2ll; page 5, second column, line 27, claim l?, after "base" insert --memberg and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 19ML.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

